The Airbus A380, the world’s largest passengers aircraft, has played a significant role in the aviation industry with its exceptional features. Even before the epidemic took its toll on the airline sector, the status of the Airbus A380 was in doubt. The Airbus A380 program is now nearing completion. After eleven years, due to the soft Airbus A380 Orders and Deliveries, Airbus has made the hard decision to stop further production.
In February 2019, Airbus stated that the manufacture of the Super Jumbo Airbus A380 would end in 2021. Airlines appear to have lined up a number of aircraft to replace the type, including the Airbus A350, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and the yet-to-be-certified Boeing 777X, as the world’s largest Super Jumbo operator will have to retire the type at some point.
Read More: Malaysia Airlines Announces the Sale of Six of Its Airbus A380
The Airbus A380-800 passenger version has 251 definite orders from 14 customers, of which 248 have been delivered as of June 2021. Emirates is yet to receive the final three A380s. Emirates Airlines is the largest operator of the Airbus A380 type, with 118 planes in its fleet and three more on order. And it is followed by Singapore Airlines, which is the second-largest operator of this kind.
Airbus delivered two A380 aircraft in the first half of 2021. Both A6-EVO and A6-EVP Super Jumbos were delivered to Emirates. Airbus now only has three Airbus A380 planes to deliver. All three outstanding aircraft are expected to join the Emirates fleet in Dubai.
Emirates president Sir Tim Clark confirmed in late 2020 that the final Airbus A380 aircraft, A6-EVS, Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN) 272, will be delivered in May 2022. The remaining two double-deckers, designated as A6-EVQ and A6-EVR, are expected to arrive in the first half of 2022.
Many A380 aircraft, including Emirates and Singapore Airlines, the two major operators of this type, are currently parked owing to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. According to a report from Planeplotters.net, 90 out of 119 Emirates Airbus A380 planes are grounded due to travel restrictions.
When the A380 was first introduced, it was estimated that 1,200 units would be built, covering development, construction, and profit. In reality, only about a fourth of that quantity was ordered. Airlines have been canceling orders in recent months. Notably, QANTAS has canceled the remaining eight after receiving 12 of the 20 they ordered. Virgin Atlantic has canceled its order for six planes. Even Emirates, the type’s largest customer with 162 orders, cut back on their orders.
Airbus and Emirates decided in February 2019 to lower the total order for the A380 from 162 to 123 aircraft and replace it with up to 40 Airbus A330-900neo and 30 Airbus A350-900s. As Emirates, Airbus’ largest customer, reduced its order book, the manufacturer stated the A380’s manufacturing would be halted.
“As a result of this decision, despite all of our recent sales efforts with other airlines, we have no major A380 backlog and so no basis to prolong manufacturing. As a result, deliveries of the A380 will cease in 2021, according to Airbus Chief Executive Officer Tom Enders in a statement released on February 14, 2019.
The A380 could end up flying even longer as a result of the delay. There are further reasons to keep the A380 flying longer, in addition to the A380 replacement delays. Especially when Emirates debuted the Premium Economy class/seats on its double-deckers only a few months ago. Even though five of Singapore Airlines’ 24 aircraft have already been retired, the airline has maintained several of the other 19 aircraft operational for nonstop service between long-haul routes.
The Airbus A380 has been around for a long time, dating back to the dawn of the jet age. An engine failure during the flight was a fairly common occurrence in the early days. With four engines, the plane could either keep flying or divert to the nearest accessible airfield.
